Blood donor come-on: Give a pint, get a pint

CLEVELAND – Some in Michigan who roll up their sleeves to donate blood will get a racetrack T-shirt, hat and pin. Sponsors in San Diego have given away whale-watching trips. On Wednesday, the Cleveland Regional Transit Authority handed out vouchers for a pint of any beverage, including beer, in exchange for a pint of blood.

The Cleveland promotion was the latest gift offered by businesses and organizations that sponsor drives to try to build up the blood banks, many of which are running desperately low, including in some parts of Ohio where there was less than a day’s supply.

“Pint for a pint is a catchy message,” said Karen Kelley, spokeswoman for the Red Cross in northeast Ohio. “I can see co-workers or neighbors getting together days following the drive to enjoy a celebratory drink for having helped others.”

The vouchers can be used for any beverage in the city’s Warehouse District, a collection of trendy bars, nightclubs and restaurants near downtown.

Kelley said the blood supply in northeast Ohio area including Cleveland was critically low. There was less than a half day’s worth of type A negative, for example. Without new donations, area hospitals will be forced to rely on neighboring states for blood – if those states can spare it.

Nationally, there was about 2 1/2 days’ worth of blood on hand Wednesday. A healthy supply is five to seven days’ worth, said Michelle Hudgins, spokeswoman for the Red Cross.